E02691: Floor mosaics with Greek inscriptions invoking *Kosmas and Damianos (brothers, physician martyrs of Syria, S00385). Found in a monastic (?) church at Khirbat Dariya near Samad, close to Irbid, Pella and Gerasa/Jerash (Jordan/Roman province of Arabia or Palaestina II). Dated 624.

Inscription 1:

Circular medallion set in the mosaic floor of the apse, at its east end.

+ Κ(ύρι)ε ὁ θ(εὸ)ς
τοῦ ἁγ(ίου) Κοσ-
μᾶ (καὶ) Δαμιανοῦ,
μνήσθετι τοῦ δού-
λου σου Θεοδώ-
ρου

'+ O Lord, God of Saint Kosmas and Damianos, remember your servant Theodoros!'

Text: SEG 57, 1841.

Inscription 2:

Framed rectangular medallion set in the border of the carpet mosaic of the choir, in front of the apse.

+ ἅγιε Κοσμᾶ (καὶ) Δαμιανέ,
[μνήσ]θετι τῆς δούλης σου Μαρ-
[- - -]ΑΛΟΥ[- - -]ΙΑΝΙΝ
[- - -]ΟΥΝ

1. Δαμιανν(έ) Michel || 3. ]λλου[ Michel || ]ηιαν ιν́΄ Michel

'+ O Saint Kosmas and Damianos, remember your servant Mar[ia (?) - - -], (daugther of?) [- - -]alos (and?) [- - -]!'

Text: SEG 57, 1842.

Inscription 3:

Large rectangular panel framed by a tabula ansata, containing a Greek inscription of five lines. Set in the floor of the nave, in front of the chancel screen. Dimensions not specified.

The inscription has not been published. A fragmentary French translation was offered by Anne Michel in 2001, and was later lightly corrected by Michele Piccirillo in Liber Annuus and Leah Di Segni in SEG. This is certainly the building inscription of the church as it says that the shrine was completed or restored under bishop Axiopistos, country bishop (chorepiskopos) Kasiseos, priest Gilonos (?) and a monk (?) on 1st March, 12th indiction, in the year [5]18 of the era of the province of Arabia, which corresponds to 1st March AD 624. The work was funded by Thomas, son (?) of Arsenios, as a vow for the salvation of himself and of his family, under the supervision of priests Ioannes, Sergios, and Klimothaus (?).

An English translation is offered by Lihi Habas (2009, 76): 'In honour of the holiest of the saints the illustrious bishop Casisao head of the bishops Kilonous all ... the Saints Cosmas and Damianus, the work was carried out by the care of Thomas [son of?] Arsenius, for the sake of his redemption and the redemption of others. The work began in the days of Priest John ... and Sergius and Climothaus on the first of March in the twelfth indiction in the year ... 18.'

See also: SEG 57, 1844, Piccirillo 2005, 389, and Michel 2001, 137.